UC Santa Barbara's giving societies recognize the wide-ranging impact of our generous donors. Benefits of membership in our giving recognition societies offer personal ways to engage with campus and include recognition in the Annual Report of Private Philanthropy. We invite you to explore the societies below!

Gold Circle.

The Gold Circle Society is UC Santa Barbara's premier recognition society, honoring philanthropists who have cumulatively invested more than $1,000,000 in this institution. UC Santa Barbara gratefully acknowledges and celebrates the profound impact brought about by these visionary leaders.

Lancaster Society.

Membership in the prestigious Lancaster Society is reserved for benefactors who have contributed $100,000 or more to the university over time, and have helped build UC Santa Barbara's world-class reputation for teaching, research and public service. The Society is named after Louis and Winifred Lancaster, civic-minded philanthropists who played a central role in establishing the UC Santa Barbara Foundation.

Legacy Circle.

The Legacy Circle honors donors who have included UC Santa Barbara in their estate plans through some form of planned gift. Membership in the society is conferred upon those who have communicated to the university their intention to make a gift through a bequest, charitable trust, charitable gift annuity, pooled income funds, life insurance, retirement fund, or a gift of property with a retained life estate.

Chancellors Council.

The Chancellor's Council, UC Santa Barbara's premier annual giving program, recognizes donors of $1,000 or more to the university. Young alumni are also recognized at this level when giving $500 or more. These gifts are essential to maintaining campus excellence and may be restricted to support a specific department or unrestricted for use where the need is greatest.

Chancellor’s Patrons

The Chancellor’s Patrons are Chancellor's Council members who have made annual donations of at least $1,000 for five consecutive years, or more. UC Santa Barbara is honored to recognize the loyal generosity of our Chancellor’s Patrons.

Kim and Dean Pananides.

The Doors of Perception

“One of our goals for the collection was to make it accessible to scholars and the public, and we found the perfect place at UC Santa Barbara.”

Kim Pananides

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Jim Maloney with husband Andrew.

To Germany and Back Again

“At first, I gave a scholarship of $1,500 because that was the amount that I needed to study abroad. I’ve been giving more every year since in both my and my husband’s names. It’s incredibly meaningful to me.”

Jim Maloney '84

Read More To Germany and Back Again